Printing digital images in Microsoft Word

Download Once in a While

Before I start, I'd like to thank my design team buddy, Sheri, (see this image on her card here) for the nice advertisement and tell you what equipment I'm working on. My software is Microsoft Office 2007, my computer is a Dell Inspiron 9300 laptop and my printer is an Epson Artisan 50 which loads paper from the back (it really rocks for heavy paper, I use 120 lb cover weight in it all the time). I use Microsoft Word because it's what I used before I retired and I'm very familiar with it. I can't give you instructions with other software because I don't have it on my computer.



Step 1: Open a new Microsoft Word document.

Step 2: Change the margins - click on PAGE LAYOUT - MARGINS.

Step 3: Click on CUSTOM MARGINS at the bottom.

Step 4: Change your margins to 0 in all the boxes above. Some printers will not allow you to do this and will change your zero to the smallest margin allowed by your printer. You will have to be ok with this, you cannot change it.

Step 5: Click on INSERT - PICTURE.

Step 6: Find the file you wish to print. In this case, the file is in my Elements Stuff folder and is called: "Once in a While.png". Either double click on this file name or click on INSERT.

Step 7: Your image should appear in the upper left hand corner of your document as close to the edge as your printer will allow.

Step 8: Right click on your image, select TEXT WRAPPING.

Step 9: Select SQUARE.

Step 10: Now you are free to move the picture anywhere on the page you'd like it to be. Do not move it by the corner handles, this will resize it. Your cursor should turn into something like a snowflake when you place it in the middle of your picture, left click and slide your cursor while holding your mouse button down. Let up on your mouse button when you are happy about the placement of your photograph. Move your file away from the border closer to the center of your file.

Step 11: Right click on your picture and select SIZE.

Step 12: Change the height and width of your picture to match the size of the image you want to print. If you'd like a 1 inch sentiment, change them to 1. Keep the "Lock Aspect Ratio" and "Relative to original picture size" boxes checked and click CLOSE.

Step 13: You need to change the page size of your file. Click outside of your photograph to 'deselect' the photo - all the handles should go away. Click on PAGE LAYOUT - SIZE - 4 X 6.

Step 14: Your file page should have gotten much smaller. Even though I checked 4x6, my paper size is actually 4.25 x 5.5. You can use white cardstock or any color or design paper. Your printer should have a slide on it that allows you to change the paper size from 8.5 x 11 to something smaller. Refer to your printer instructions for that. I added my 4.25 x 5.5 white cardstock into my printer tray and moved the slide over until it was snug against the edge of my cardstock. If you plan to print several sentiments at one time, go back to Step 5 and INSERT another picture. You can print as many sentiments as you can fit on the page without running into the printer margins. Practice on a piece of text weight printer paper if you are unsure about the margins.

Step 15: Click on the Microsoft element in the upper left hand corner of the screen and select PRINT.

Step 16: When your printer window opens, select PROPERTIES.

Step 17: You will need to change your printer quality to PHOTO or better.

Step 18: Select your paper size at 4x6 to match your file size.

Step 19: Your printer may tell you that your margins are outside of the printable area. That will not be a concern if your picture is in the center of your paper. Click on OK. Your sentiment should print out. You may need to adjust the placement of your pictures, if so, go back and do that. If you are happy with the placement of your picture, click on the Microsoft element in the upper left hand corner, click on SAVE AS. When the window opens save it as a template so you can use it again (i.e. Template_4x6.docx). You can call this template up when you want to print sentiments again, just delete the picture and insert a new one, all the settings will remain the same. You will need to reset your printer however, every time you print, because it will pick up settings from other documents or files that you print. I hope this helps you with printing digital backgrounds and sentiments. Please feel free to e-mail me with questions, I'll help if I can.

SSCC Winter Challenge

I hope this is my very last winter card. I've had enough winter this year to last me for several years and I'm willing to bet I'm not the only person that feels that way. This card is for the Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central challenge "Winter" which started on January 17. This challenge ends on January 30 so you still have lots of time to enter. Why don't you pop over there and see what the girls on the design team have up their sleeves?

I stamped the Magnolia Winter Day background on Beckett Radiance cardstock and heat embossed with an iridescent embossing powder. The snowflakes and tree are buttons from Michaels, purchased at the after Christmas sale. I really like this image.

Paper: Bazzill, DCWV The Luxury Stack; Stamps: Magnolia Winter Day, Magnolia Tilda as Lucia, Whipper Snapper sentiment, Stampendous; Stampendous Kaleidoscope Embossing Powder; Copics: [Skin R20, E00, E000, E0000][Hair Y38, Y08, Y06, Y02][Candle E40, Y17, Y13][Headpiece YG03, Spica Red][Clothes B0000, B000, B00, Spica Clear]

Eggplant Odyssey...

I headed out to the grocery store early this morning to get the ingredients for Ratatouille for Movie Day lunch tomorrow. Inspired by the movie of the same name and having never cooked with eggplant before (can you believe that?), with list in hand, I shopped. Guess what? On January 24, 2011 in Central Illinois, there is not an eggplant to be had. The produce man at my local store said he'd been unable to get it for more than a week and doubted that anyone else would have it since most of them order from the same vendors. So, that recipe will have to wait for another day.

Eggplant Odyssey and three more freebies....

I headed out to the grocery store early this morning to get the ingredients for Ratatouille for Movie Day lunch tomorrow. Inspired by the movie of the same name and having never cooked with eggplant before (can you believe that?), with list in hand, I shopped. Guess what? On January 24, 2011 in Central Illinois, there is not an eggplant to be had. The produce man at my local store said he'd been unable to get it for more than a week and doubted that anyone else would have it since most of them order from the same vendors. So, that recipe will have to wait for another day.

I am still playing around with the digital sentiments and have several people reviewing them. Thanks so much to Sheri on my design team, she's been an inspiration. Zoe at Make It Crafty has also offered advice. Thanks, ladies. I'm encouraged to keep working at it.

Download A Single Rose

Download Hugs & Kisses

Download Smile

All of your comments have been appreciated. I've been asked if I plan to sell these. Maybe. Someday. Right now I'm very much enjoying learning new software. It's something that I'm good at and have missed since I retired. Is there something you'd like to see here? Please let know.

Predators in the yard...

This morning while checking my e-mail, I caught something out of the corner of my eye. The upside down suet feeder was just a swingin'. It moves a bit when a woodpecker lands on top and 'walks' himself under it, but this was a big arc. So, I stood up and looked outside and in the crabapple tree right outside my craft room window was the most gorgeous Cooper's Hawk. I have seen him in a tree across the street from our house but never in our yard. The hawk was obviously after something that was on the suet feeder, but he missed. Before I could get my camera, he was off to another hunting area. How glorious to see one of the predator birds up close and personal. I'm tempted to put up a big sign that says "Eat House Sparrows". The reason for that is for another post.

Looking for volunteers to test freebies.....

This morning while checking my e-mail, I caught something out of the corner of my eye. The upside down suet feeder was just a swingin'. It moves a bit when a woodpecker lands on top and 'walks' himself under it, but this was a big arc. So, I stood up and looked outside and in the crabapple tree right outside my craft room window was the most gorgeous Cooper's Hawk. I have seen him in a tree across the street from our house but never in our yard. The hawk was obviously after something that was on the suet feeder, but he missed. Before I could get my camera, he was off to another hunting area. How glorious to see one of the predator birds up close and personal. I'm tempted to put up a big sign that says "Eat House Sparrows". The reason for that is for another post.

Download the gardening file.

Download the Happy Birthday File:

Download the Friends Sentiment:

Some people had trouble with downloading my last digital sentiment. I've moved the files to another software package and hope you all are able to access. I WILL keep trying this until I get it right. Honest. Please let me know if you like these, if you want me to keep doing them, if they are easy to download, and if you have any requests. I can't promise, but I'll take any suggestions.

A freebie for you....

Edited to add new gardening square.jpg address:

I have been playing off and on with making my own sentiments. I love working on the computer and used it extensively when I was working. I have a new copy of Photoshop Elements on my computer and a brand new copy of "Photoshop Elements for Dummies" so I thought, 'how hard could sentiments be?'. The stamp on this card is from Lili of the Valley, the sentiment is from BBF (Bluebirdflats). When I shared this file with a member of my design team, Sheri, she was enthusiastic (maybe just cuz she's me buddy) so I thought I would see what ya'll think. This was my first effort, but it won't be my last. I have half a dozen more made and they will appear on my blog in the future. Please feel free to help yourself if you like it. This will be the first time I've tried anything like this so if it doesn't work, please e-mail me at: bluebirdflats@yahoo.com and let me know. There are two files, one is a .jpg and one is a .png file. I don't know why the .png file picture is distorted, but it downloaded the right file. My chief tester, Sheri, said it worked for her too. So, here it is. Please let me know if you would like me to keep doing these.

Download File
Paper: DCWV The Blossoms Matstack, Bazzill; Stamp: Lili of the Valley Glamorous Gardening, Sentiment:BBF; Spellbinder Classic Rectangles Small, Spellbinder Scalloped Rectangles Small, Martha Stewart Punches; Copics: [Skin R20, E00, E000, E01][Hair E09, E19, E07][Dress B0000, B000, B00, B0. B02][Pot E17, E97, E99][Basket Y32, Y35][Plant YG05, Y13, V91, V93,][Sock E40, E41][Outline T2, N1][Watering Can G82] Spica Baby Blue, Clear, Lilac.

MSL - Sentiment Focus Challenge

If you have not entered any of the Magnolia Stamp Lover's challenges, you should check them out. The challenge this time was to have all the focus on a sentiment. I have to admit, I generate so many of my sentiments on the computer or make them up with JustRite Fonts that I didn't have very many Magnolia sentiments. I subscribed to the Magnolia kits for a year and received three, this was the most appropriate for the season. The box was created with a Sizzix Pro Die purchased from StampingScrapping.com. Cindy will order this die for you if you need it. It only requires one strip of tacky tape to assemble - easy peasy. And it makes a lovely box that will hold a lot of stuff. The box is 3 1/4" x 4 5/8" x 2 3/8" when constructed. This is one of my favorite boxes to make.

Paper: Stardream Metallic Antique Gold, Stash, Anna Griffin Christmas Scrapbook; Stamp: Magnolia; Zing Gold Embossing Powder, Ribbon: Stash; Flowers: Michaels, Sizzix Box, Carry All #656395

Graphic Arts here I come...

A member of my design team recently forwarded an e-mail to me from an 11th grade teacher who was looking for help in designing a ticket for her classes’ prom. I have a little experience in CorelDRAW so I volunteered to design something using her input. This was the final version. The original version had two Eiffel Towers on the left and was lacking the black box. The text was black and only three lines. After running the design by her 11th graders, this was the result. I don’t know if that qualifies me as a Graphic Artist, but I very much enjoyed the process.

What a great weekend....

Ruthann and I took a bus trip to Chicago on Saturday to see Wicked. I saw it for the third time, she saw it for the first. It's wonderful to share something you love with someone simpatico. We had decent seats in the balcony at the Cadillac Palace Theater, shopped and had dinner at Macys. I saw some dinnerware to die for. I'm drawn to square plates for some reason and there was a set with Lillies on them that I loved. We traveled by a Peoria Charter Bus driven by Jeff. He negotiates downtown Chicago with a better humor than my husband does. Our host, Kathy, with a "K", was a veritable feast of information on Chicago. She shared a story that I will pass on to you.

Al Capone had an accountant named Fast Eddie. Fast Eddie had a young son and started to worry about the role model he was to his boy. He was instrumental in Al Capone's conviction and may have ultimately lost his life because of it. His son grew up and became a pilot in the Pacific Theater during the second World War. He was alone in the sky when he ran into seven Japanese planes intent on bombing a US battleship. Fast Eddie's son shot down 6 of them and was out of ammunition. He crashed his plane into the seventh to stop it. Fast Eddie's son was Butch O'Hare and Chicago named their airport for him. It reminded me that I know so little of the history of one of our biggest cities, so I took her advice and bought a book on Chicago at Barbara's Book Store in Macy's.

So, that's my big news. Hope your weekend, where ever you are, was as good. Hugs...

Valentine Card and....I Wonder....

I picked up an old copy of Cardmaker magazine a few days ago. I was just browsing the pages and wasting some time when I ran across an article on wheels. Remember when those were all the rage? I have a whole shoebox, some I've never even used. I had ordered extra empty cartridges and bottles of ink so I could 'wheel' in gold and silver. Like many of my plans, I never got around to it and the clear shoebox which is nicely labeled "Rollers & Handles" has been collecting dust on a high shelf in my craft room. So, back to the article. Someone had used a wheel with embossing ink and heat embossed a background. I was so stoked (anyone remember that word? stoked (stkt) adj. Slang 1. Exhilarated or excited. 2. Being or feeling high or intoxicated, especially from a drug) (no drugs were involved in the making of this card, though - lol). I got out my shoebox full, found an empty cartridge, filled it with VersaMark Embossing Ink and created this background with my new Zing Rouge Embossing Powder. I've told you before just how great this stuff is. This is the opaque type, it's got a great shine and embosses cleanly and quickly. After the powder dried, I airbrushed it with Copics R46 and was very pleased with the way it turned out.

The Spellbinder heart was dry embossed with a Sizzix embossing plate. These work really well in the new Grand Calibur - I used the A Base Plate, the Sizzix Folder, cardstock, the large GC brown mat, and a Cuttlebug B plate. It was a snug fit but embossed beautifully and I didn't use anything to moisten the paper. A plus was the brown mat picked all the pieces of paper out of the cuts on my Cuttlebug B plate so I had to throughly wipe down my brown mat, but the embossing was worth it. It's every bit as deep as a Cuttlebug or Sizzix Folder. Since I was really trying to focus on the background, I colored Tilda in pastels. I was pretty pleased with this card.

Paper: Stash; Stamps: Magnolia Singing Tilda, JustRite Times New Roman 25 pt, Roller Stampin Around Love; Spellbinder Classic Heart; Zing Red Embossing Powder; Sizzix Retro Hearts Embossing Plate; Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes Die; Copics: [Skin E01, E00, E000, R20, Sharpie Poster Paint White][Hair E35, E33, E31, E30][Microphone T4, T2][Dress R0000, R000, R00, Sakura Glaze White]

I wonder....I happened to be watching Animal Precinct on the Animal Planet last week. Actually, I had been watching Dogs 101 which I love as much as I love Cats 101; you learn such interesting things about dogs and cats if you watch this show. Anyway, they were talking about an ASPCA officer who often works undercover so they couldn't show his face. But he was wearing a short sleeved shirt and had very distinctive tattoos over his arms and hands. I'm guessing anyone watching that show would be able to pick him out with no problems - just a note for the producers of these shows. On a related note: when I was in the Marine Corps I was told that a tatoo is just another way for the police to identify you. I never planned to get arrested, but the thought stuck with me so I am tatooless.

A movie review...

My husband and I have a Netflix account; he really enjoys streaming war movies. Our movie collection contains at least one movie on every war that was ever fought. We have the Civil War, WWI and WWII, the Korean War, all the wars that John Wayne fought in, we even have 300 which is the story of the Battle of Thermopylae (truth be told, I enjoyed this one - did you ever see so many hunky men in one movie?) I, on the other hand, like all the seasons of Monk, The Rockford Files, and quirky little movies that I never would have seen if I weren't browsing the Netflix Instant Watch list. My newest find was a little gem called "Bottle Shock" with Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, and Dennis Farina. It's the story of the Napa Valley we know today with wonderful B&Bs and wine tasting. I never realized that the Napa Valley wasn't always a destination. But, you watch the movie. Then, come back and tell me how you liked it. I'm willing to watch 100 so so films just to find you that one little jewel that you will talk about for days. Just ask Ruthann. I practically forced her to watch it in the middle of our "Life of Mammals" with Sir David Attenborough. Now she wants to watch it again. That's the power of a good film - it stays with you - like biscuits and gravy.

I wonder: Yesterday I saw an advertisement for the best knife ever created. It was a ceramic knife that could cut a flagpole in half and still gently cut hot bread - never needs sharpening - ever. Wow! It normally sold for $200.00 but just because they love me, it was $19.99. In fact, they love me so much, they were going to send me two of them for the same price, just add separate shipping and handling. What a deal. What I wonder is: who are these people and why do they like me so much that they're willing to lose $380.00 to send me the 2 of the best knives in the world? Is anybody else suspicious? Am I the only one?

A movie review

My husband and I have a Netflix account; he really enjoys streaming war movies. Our movie collection contains at least one movie on every war that was ever fought. We have the Civil War, WWI and WWII, the Korean War, all the wars that John Wayne fought in, we even have 300 which is the story of the Battle of Thermopylae (truth be told, I enjoyed this one - did you ever see so many hunky men in one movie?) I, on the other hand, like all the seasons of Monk, The Rockford Files, and quirky little movies that I never would have seen if I weren't browsing the Netflix Instant Watch list. My newest find was a little gem called "Bottle Shock" with Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, and Dennis Farina. It's the story of the Napa Valley we know today with wonderful B&Bs and wine tasting. I never realized that the Napa Valley wasn't always a destination. But, you watch the movie. Then, come back and tell me how you liked it. I'm willing to watch 100 so so films just to find you that one little jewel that you will talk about for days. Just ask Ruthann. I practically forced her to watch it in the middle of our "Life of Mammals" with Sir David Attenborough. Now she wants to watch it again. That's the power of a good film - it stays with you - like biscuits and gravy.



Shhhhhhhhhhh. Don't tell my hubby, but this is his Valentine's Day card. If you're looking for some cool digital images, you could do worse than Make It Crafty. Zoe has some of the best backgrounds for Magnolia stamps I've ever seen. She has a twisted sense of humor and I really like that! Check her out, you won't be sorry you did. Do you love this face? I guess that's a backfire. There are two more images with cupid in them, all three are as cute as the dickens. I don't know which tickles me more, the expression on his face or his underpants. So, here's my 'brief' Valentine.

Paper: Stash; Stamp: Make It Crafty Digi Cupid; Cricut Happily Ever After Cartridge; Cloud 9 Design Hearts; Sizzix Swirly Hearts Embossing Folder; Copics: [Skin E000, E00, R20, RV10, B0000][Hair Y00, Y11, Y35, Lemon Spica][Wings R81, R83, N0][Arrow R29, T1, T2, R27, R29, Spica Lipstick][Bow E55, E57][Underpants R46, Spica Garnet] Computer Generated Sentiment

I wonder: Yesterday I saw an advertisement for the best knife ever created. It was a ceramic knife that could cut a flagpole in half and still gently cut hot bread - never needs sharpening - ever. Wow! It normally sold for $200.00 but just because they love me, it was $19.99. In fact, they love me so much, they were going to send me two of them for the same price, just add separate shipping and handling. What a deal. What I wonder is: who are these people and why do they like me so much that they're willing to lose $380.00 to send me the 2 of the best knives in the world? Is anybody else suspicious? Am I the only one?

SSCC Flowers Challenge

I have dear friends that live in Bozeman, Montana. We visit when we can but never often enough. I miss them bunches. I made this card for their anniversary. I loved this image as soon as I saw it and even though Magnolia calls it 'brother and sister', it looks like Lowell and Marcia to me. The shaped card was cut with my new Grand Calibur and the Grand Label 4 dies. I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of use out of this machine and dies, but my best use will be shaped cards. I did have to run the die through the machine and then back out again to get the die to cut through two layers of my thick cardstock, but it was up to the challenge. Then I cut one piece out of designer cardstock to attach to the front. The ticket was stamped in VersaMark and embossed with Zing Gold Embossing Powder. I've said it before, I Love This Stuff. It doesn't seem to stick outside the stamped area as much as other powders do. I do use an embossing buddy, but it never seems to stop all of the extra scattered powder so I end up using a paintbrush and inevitably, I rub off some of the good powder. Zing works really well for me, I sprinkle it, blow on it to remove excess powder, tap it once or twice and I'm good to go. And I like the fact they have metallic and glitter as well as opaque colors. Their Halloween colors - lime green and orange are wonderful.

Paper: DCWV The Blossoms & Butterflies Matstack; Stamps: Magnolia Sister & Brother, Whimsy Sentiment; 3D Crystal Lacquer Ivory; Cloud 9 Design Hearts; Spica Pink; Spellbinder Grand Labels 4 and Spellbinder Classic Hearts Die; Zing Metallic Gold Embossing Powder; Copics: [Skin Him E01, E00, R20, Her E00, E000, R20][Pants B95, B91, B93][Dress R85, R83, R81][Shirt YG93, YG95, YG91][Hair Him Y02, Y00, Y04, Her C7, C5, C3][Shoes Him E35, E34, Her 3D Lacquer Ivory]

Didja ever?...

Before I share my day, I'd like to offer an apology for the necessary extra step in commenting on my blog. I had to add the word verification feature to stop people from offering to sell me anatomy enhancements for anatomy I don't even have. I hope you don't mind.

Didja ever have one of those days where absolutely nothing goes right? I left the house this morning in a really good mood to run a couple of errands. I had a small package to mail at the post office, I needed to deposit two checks from containers I sold over the holidays, I needed to fill up the gas tank and lastly, stop at the grocery store for a dessert for movie Tuesday. OK, first stop: the post office in the small town south of my population 300 +/- village, park the car, walk across the street, it's not open yet. So, I go to the ATM. The machine takes my checks but when I go to make a withdrawal for gas, the machine groans, grinds, pings and finally spits out a notice that it can't oblige me. Well, that's a bummer, but there's another machine just a mile down the road, so off I go. This machine puts the big clock in the display panel that says "just a moment" and after having made no noise, flashes a sign that my withdrawal just won't be possible. So, I pull into the teeny tiny Credit Union building next to the ATM, get out, lock the car - and find out I'm 20 minutes early. Drat! So, I sit for 20 minutes (listening to my new Nota CD which rocks), finally get inside and get my money. Then I head to the gas station for gas. Getting gas goes well; inside I try to get a cup of English Toffee coffee and the machine spits up all over me. Double Drat. Ron, the owner, finagles the Cappuchino machine until it works, I get my coffee and head for the post office. There I wait in a line of four people while both of the tellers have conversations with the customers. Their business is clearly finished, they're just chatting - hazards of a post office in a tiny town. On the way home there's a railroad bridge I pass under and just outside it had a 'Bump' sign that I'd not seen before. Bump, my great aunties' panties, it was a hole in the pavement the size of a laundry basket which rattled my car and spilt my coffee. TRIPLE DRAT - FINALLY, I'm just a block from home when I realize - I DIDN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. FUDGE! Maybe I'll try that tomorrow - or we'll have tangerines for dessert, my hips would love that. (On a completely unrelated note, when my grandmother said 'Fudge', we all bailed out the nearest exit - it meant someone was about to die. I'll share what happened when she said it about me in a later post.)

Didja ever?

Before I share my day, I'd like to offer an apology for the necessary extra step in commenting on my blog. I had to add the word verification feature to stop people from offering to sell me anatomy enhancements for anatomy I don't even have. I hope you don't mind.

Didja ever have one of those days where absolutely nothing goes right? I left the house this morning in a really good mood to run a couple of errands. I had a small package to mail at the post office, I needed to deposit two checks from containers I sold over the holidays, I needed to fill up the gas tank and lastly, stop at the grocery store for a dessert for movie Tuesday. OK, first stop: the post office in the small town south of my population 300 +/- village, park the car, walk across the street, it's not open yet. So, I go to the ATM. The machine takes my checks but when I go to make a withdrawal for gas, the machine groans, grinds, pings and finally spits out a notice that it can't oblige me. Well, that's a bummer, but there's another machine just a mile down the road, so off I go. This machine puts the big clock in the display panel that says "just a moment" and after having made no noise, flashes a sign that my withdrawal just won't be possible. So, I pull into the teeny tiny Credit Union building next to the ATM, get out, lock the car - and find out I'm 20 minutes early. Drat! So, I sit for 20 minutes (listening to my new Nota cd which rocks), finally get inside and get my money. Then I head to the gas station for gas. Getting gas goes well; inside I try to get a cup of English Toffee coffee and the machine spits up all over me. Double Drat. Ron, the owner, finagles the Cappuchino machine until it works, I get my coffee and head for the post office. There I wait in a line of four people while both of the tellers have conversations with the customers. Their business is clearly finished, they're just chatting - hazards of a post office in a tiny town. On the way home there's a railroad bridge I pass under and just outside it had a 'Bump' sign that I'd not seen before. Bump, my great aunties' panties, it was a hole in the pavement the size of a laundry basket which rattled my car and spilt my coffee. TRIPLE DRAT - FINALLY, I'm just a block from home when I realize - I DIDN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. FUDGE! Maybe I'll try that tomorrow - or we'll have tangerines for dessert, my hips would love that. (On a completely unrelated note, when my grandmother said 'Fudge', we all bailed out the nearest exit - it meant someone was about to die. I'll share what happened when she said it about me in a later post.)

The container I have today is from a Sizzix Pro Die - Box, Long Triangle w/Scallop Circle & Tag #656420. It's 2 1/2" x 7 3/8" x 2 1/2". I can think of a number of applications for this container. After you crease it but before you glue it, you could add a long piece of something thin like embroidery thread down the center. With a tassel attached to the thread at the bottom, and a small hole in the lid to pass the top of the thread through, you could create a cute hanger so this would hang on a tree. This box would hold a pen set, a silk scarf, almost any kind of jewelry, hot cocoa mix, those wonderful packets of Crystal Lite, several spoons covered in chocolate to stir your coffee with (if you like mocha). You could fill it with inspirational messages and take one out each day, you could use it as a 'honey-do jar' or put the names of all your favorite restaurants in it, and draw one out when you decide to go to dinner - just leave it hanging someplace so it's handy. Please, leave me some more ideas. If someday you purchase the Big Shot Pro, you can come back and check the comments for inspiration.

My box was created with Tim Holtz idea-ology paper which is two sided so this is equally pretty inside. The ribbon was from my stash and tied with the Bow-Easy. The sentiment was created with the JustRite 25 pt Curlz font, the tiny red heart is from Cloud 9 Design and the charm has been living in my 4th left hand drawer for so long it has forgotten it's origins.

MSL Blues Challenge

Have I mentioned that I purchased a Sizzix Big Shot Pro and several dies as a Christmas present to myself? I love making containers. I sell many of them and give quite a few as gifts. I think it's the decorating that I love. This matchbox die makes a box big enough to be useful. The finished box size is 3-5/8'' x 5-1/4'' x 1-1/8'' and that's a pretty substantial box. It's very easy to assemble after being cut and the die will cut heavy cardstock so the box is very sturdy. I used the measurements to cut the design paper to decorate the matchbox and added a brad for a drawer pull.

This box will hold a good-sized gift: a nice scarf, jewelry, gift cards, candy, a small digital camera or cell phone.

This is one of the new Maggies from the winter 2011 'So Special' collection. They aren't on any websites I've seen so far so I can't tell you the name, but the entire collection was centered around birthdays and Cindy will have them on her site soon.

This is the box closed.

Paper: K&Co Que Sera Sera, Stardream Metallic Lapis Lazuli; Stamps: Stampin' Up, Magnolia 2011 ' So Special' Collection; Distress Stickles Stormy Sky, Cloud 9 Rain Dots, Spellbinder Big Scalloped Ovals, Classic Squares Small; Ribbon: Stash; Copics: [Skin R20, E01, E00, E000][Hair E19, E09, E07][Package Y28, Spica Clear][Shoes E34, E35, E37][Clothes B97, B95, B93][Airbrush Y28]